Respect Life

SJV’s Respect Life Ministry members invite you to pray this Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary.  This Novena is typically prayed from September 29 through October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, but it may be prayed at any time.

Join us in praying that, during Respect Life Month and going forward, our resolve will be strengthened to cherish and protect the gift of every human life, and that God grants us the wisdom and courage to lovingly protect His gift of human life at every stage from conception until natural death.

Day 1                                                                     Day 2
Day 3                                                                     Day 4
Day 5                                                                     Day 6
Day 7                                                                     Day 8
Day 9

Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference.”

On March 25, 2020, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the Church celebrates the 25th anniversary year of the prophetic papal encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). This document, written by Pope St. John Paul II, reaffirmed the Church’s constant teaching on the value and inviolability of every human life. This anniversary year gives us a wonderful opportunity to assess, expand, and better communicate resources and assistance to pregnant moms and families in need at the local level.

Our parish is joining a nationwide effort from March 25, 2020 to March 25 2021 entitled: “Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service.”  In light of current events, SJV is adjusting our schedule for the Year of Service according to what is pastorally and practically appropriate for everyone’s safety. In the meantime, we can still pray, wherever we are, that this Year of Service will help us increase our outreach, so that every pregnant and parenting mother in need may know she can turn to her local Catholic community for help and authentic friendship.

A Prayer for Pregnant Mothers
O Blessed Mother, you received the good news of the incarnation of Christ, your Son, with faith and trust. Grant your protection to all pregnant mothers facing difficulties.
Guide us as we strive to make our parish communities places of welcome and assistance for mothers in need. Help us become instruments of God’s love and compassion.
Mary, Mother of the Church, graciously help us build a culture of life and a civilization of love, together with all people of good will, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life.* Amen.
* Cf. Evangelium vitae 105 © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City. Adapted with permission. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2019, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. Excerpted with permission. Copyright © 2020, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.

The Respect Life Ministry invites you to pray the Rosary with us at Planned Parenthood the last Thursday of every month. To carpool, meet in the SJV parking lot by the parish office after 9:00am Mass. We know that when people are present in prayer at the abortion site, through the grace of God, hearts are changed and lives are saved.

The Houston Coalition for Life’s 40 Days for Life Campaign takes place twice a year: during Lent and in the Fall.  SJV’s Respect Life members participate every Thursday during the campaigns, praying from 10 am until Noon.

In December, Respect Life volunteers sell blank note cards at the Social Service Ministries office. All the proceeds from the sales benefit SJV’s Gabriel Project.

January 22^nd marks the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion in the United States. Every year, our Respect Life volunteers erect white crosses outside the entrance to SJV to commemorate the lives of the children lost to abortion since it was legalized in 1973. In addition to the blessing of the crosses, a Rosary for Life is prayed the Sunday prior to January 22nd.

Our Annual Living Rosary and Celebration of Life takes place every spring. Join us as we pray the Rosary and remembering the more than 60 million babies lost to abortion since the 1973 Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court ruling.